IDF Attacks Syrian Military Posts

Jul. 13, 2018

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come….” 2 Tim. 3:1

IDF ATTACKS SYRIAN MILITARY POSTS: The IDF targeted three military posts in Syria overnight Wed, 11 July 2018, in response to the infiltration of the Syrian UAV that was intercepted by the IDF earlier in the day. “The IDF will continue to operate determinedly and decisively against any attempt to breach Israeli sovereignty and will act against any attempt to hurt its civilians,” said the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit. “The IDF holds the Syrian regime accountable for the actions carried out in its territory and warns it from further action against Israeli forces." The Israeli attack came hours after a Syrian UAV infiltrated Israeli territory before being shot down by a Patriot missile. IDF Spokesman Ronen Manelis said, "From the moment the Syrian drone was identified, we had full operational control over its movement. Our forces carried out a number of defensive actions to prevent friction, and once they met the optimal conditions, we intercepted and destroyed it," said Manelis. (Arutz-7)

DANON TO UN: ‘CONDEMN UAV INCIDENT’: Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, on Wed. 11 July 2018 called on the Security Council to condemn the infiltration of Israeli airspace by an unmanned aerial vehicle launched from Syria. “Earlier today, an unmanned aerial vehicle was launched from Syria into Israel, penetrating 9.6 kilometers into Israeli airspace and threatening the safety and security of Israel’s northern cities and towns. Thankfully, the Israel Defense Forces intercepted the UAV, preventing the possibility of a more serious security incident,” Danon wrote to the Council. He noted that Wednesday’s incident comes during a time of heightened tensions on Israel’s border with Syria. “We have repeatedly warned the Security Council of the destabilizing activities taking place in Syria and the threats they pose to Israel and the Middle East. I urge the Security Council to condemn this dangerous act that not only threatens Israel, but the stability of the entire region,” Danon concluded. The UAV was intercepted by an Israeli Patriot missile. The launch of the missile caused sirens to sound in communities in the Golan Heights and the Jordan Valley. (INN) Urgent prayer is needed for the safety and protection of Israel’s northern region. Threats include spill over from Syria’s violent civil war and a significant Iranian presence in that country; additionally the possibility of a serious earthquake after a series of small quakes in the past week. Residents in the Tiberias area have reported being nervous about going to bed at night and not knowing if explosive noises they are hearing are due to earthquakes or related to missiles and military activities.

ISRAEL TO RUSSIA: ASSAD’S SAFE FROM US, BUT IRAN MUST QUIT SYRIA: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu told Russia on Wed. 11 July 2018 that its ally Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would be safe from Israel, but Moscow must ensure that Iranian forces quit Syria, a senior Israeli official said. The message, which the official said Netanyahu conveyed in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, came just hours after Israel shot down a Syrian drone that had penetrated its airspace, underscoring the frontier's volatility. Israel has been on high alert as Assad's forces advance on rebels in the vicinity of the Golan Heights, much of which Israel captured from Syria in 1967. Israel worries Assad could let his Iranian and Hezbollah reinforcements entrench near Israeli lines or that Syrian forces may defy a 1974 Golan demilitarization. "They (Russia) have an active interest in seeing a stable Assad regime and we in getting the Iranians out. These can clash or it can align," the Israeli official said. Israel’s willingness to leave Assad in power echoes the USA position. (Ynet)

SYRIA: 35 KILLED, 15 INJURED IN ISIS ATTACK: The Khalid ibn al-Walid Army terror group this week killed 35 Syrian soldiers and injured an additional 15 people. The attack comes after a recent ceasefire agreement in southern Syria failed to include the Khalid ibn al-Walid Army. According to reports, the attack was a suicide terror attack and occurred in the town of Zaizun, less than 9 miles from the Israeli border. ISIS reports claim that the terrorists succeeded in planting an explosive vehicle among Syrian and Russian military vehicles advancing along the Jordanian border towards Israel. In an unprecedented statement, ISIS took responsibility for Khalid ibn al-Walid Army's attack and referred to southern Syria as a "province" of ISIS. (INN)

SYRIA CIVIL WAR NEARS ISRAEL’S BORDER, BRINGS POSSIBLE IRAN MILITARY PRESENCE: A group of Syrians on Tues. 10 July, 2018 approached the Israeli fence along the Golan. They demanded that the border be opened and brandished a sign reading, “Israel should stop the barbaric attacks against us now.” An increasingly effective offensive by the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, backed by Russian air power and Iranian-supported militias, has driven long-entrenched rebel groups from southern Syria since mid-June, profoundly changing the dynamic of the 7-year-old civil war. The destabilizing presence of Iranian forces aiding Assad is likely to be a prime topic of concern when President Trump meets on Monday 16 July, 2018 with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki.

The rebels last week signed a deal with Moscow to lay down heavy weapons and cede the border regions with Jordan to Assad’s forces. Iranian and Syrian news outlets reported that government forces had cut off the key southern provincial capital of Daraa, just 8 miles from the Jordanian border, and that its fall was imminent. As the Syrian regime and Russian air power hammered Syrian rebels, an estimated 320,000 civilians fled the fighting and thousands clustered in tents next to the border fence with Israel. Israel delivered 300 tents, 13 tons of food, 30 tons of clothes and 15 tons of other humanitarian aid for children across the border as part of Operation Good Neighbor. Israel has provided humanitarian aid to Syrians for years. Now Israel faces its greatest test in seven years of war: How to keep Iran from benefiting from Syria’s offensive and threatening Jerusalem. The USA and Israel assert that there is in Syria a widespread presence of Iranian forces. (Washington Times) Please intercede according to scripture: “Scatter the nations who delight in war.” Ps. 68:30

HELP DISADVANTAGED ISRAELI CHILDREN START THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH CONFIDENCE: Vision for Israel has known repeatedly the great joy of blessing Israeli children with beautiful new backpacks and school supplies for the academic year. Since we began this project in 1998 we have distributed over 225,000 school packs to needy children, both Jewish and Arab, throughout the State of Israel. With each delivery we see the faces of children light up. Their glow of happiness increases as they eagerly opened their brand new packs and begin to explore what is inside. Help us to prepare for Israel's new school year this coming fall. Every $25 allows us to provide another pack and supplies. Your donations are urgent and welcomed at www.visionforisrael.com. Make your online donations today. For residents in the UK and outside North America visit our website at www.josephstorehouse.co.uk.

‘TO BE PREPARED FOR ARSON, FIRES, AND EARTHQUAKES’: Dudi Simchi, the chief of the Fire and Rescue Service, spoke to media sources this week about how the firefighting forces cope with the phenomenon of kite terrorism and arson, which causes dozens of fires on a daily basis throughout the Gaza envelope and the Negev. Simchi said that the firefighting forces have improved their ability to minimize the damage caused by the fires. "Unfortunately, many dunams were burned, but we can say that in the past week and a half, the amount of area burned has been small, mainly due to the faster activity of the firefighting forces. Simchi also referred to the question of whether preparations are being made for a situation in which kite terrorism will spread to Judea and Samaria: "We have been preparing for a few months now for instances of terrorists setting fire to Judea and Samaria and we work together with the heads of the local authorities and the army. We will explain to the population and make sure that there are no weeds that will allow the fire to spread. Along with the observations and forces of many volunteers in Judea and Samaria, we will also minimize damage caused by arson." The Fire Commissioner also spoke about the country's preparations for a severe earthquake, in light of the recent series of minor earthquakes in northern Israel. "I think it is impossible to know when a strong earthquake will occur, so all the citizens of Israel must prepare for an earthquake, and we must see that we are preparing and knowing what to do." (Arutz-7)

JERUSALEM MUFTI ISSUES LAND TRANSFER FATWA: The Palestinian mufti of Jerusalem, Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, on 10 July 2018 issued a new fatwa (Islamic religious decree) banning Muslims from “facilitating the transfer of ownership of any part of Jerusalem or the land of Palestine to the enemies.” The fatwa came in response to an Israeli bill allowing Jews to purchase land in Area C. According to the 1993 Oslo Accords most of geographic Judea & Samaria (60% of the area) is designated Area C, over which Israel has exclusive jurisdiction both administratively and in security matters. All Israeli settlements, including those in and around East Jerusalem, are located in Area C. The bill, put forward by MK Bezalel Smotrich aims to change a 1953 Jordanian law that prevents foreigners and non-Arabs from directly purchasing land in this area. The explanation for the bill states that it is “unacceptable” for Israeli citizens to be barred from buying land just because they are Israeli citizens.

The fatwa ruled that the “land of Palestine” was waqf – meaning an inalienable religious endowment in Islamic law – and as such it is prohibited to sell, bestow ownership or facilitate the transfer of ownership of any part of it to non-Muslims. “Anyone who sells his land to the enemies, or accepts compensation for it, will commit a sin,” said Hussein in his fatwa. He also warned that anyone who violates the fatwa will be considered an infidel, apostate and a traitor to God, Islam and his homeland. The fatwa ruled that Muslims were obliged to boycott anyone who violates the ruling, which includes refusing to do any business with the offenders or marrying them or attending their funerals or burying them in Islamic cemeteries. (J.Post)

80,000 RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS VULNERABLE TO QUAKES, ISRAEL’S DISASTER AGENCY TOLD: After a series of minor earthquakes hit the north of the country over the past several days, a hastily organized seminar hosted by the National Disaster Management Agency on Wed. 11 July, 2018 heard that tens of thousands of residential buildings in Israel are vulnerable to more powerful tremors. The meeting, called earlier this week by the Defense Ministry, included representatives from the police, army and ambulance services as well as from local authorities. A recent rash of minor quakes has raised public concerns that a major one could be coming, and instructions have been issued to review and refresh procedures. A situation assessment reported 80,000 residential buildings of three floors or more, and 4,600 public buildings, were built before new regulations requiring reinforcement against earthquakes were introduced in 1980, and are thus deemed potentially vulnerable. New details were published on Monday 9 July, 2018 showing that the government has been making very little progress in preparing for a strong tremor and in strengthening structures. (Times of Israel) Israel tends to pour much needed finances into immediate threats and is sometimes very slow in addressing potential natural disasters. Please pray for the Lord’s grace and protection against earthquakes in the north of the country, also throughout the land. Even though Israel’s central and southern regions have not been troubled with tremors recently they are also subject to the threat of serious earthquakes.

The suggestions, opinions and scripture references made by JNN writers and editors are based on the best information received.

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Vision for Israel & The Joseph Storehouse is a non-profit organization founded by Barry & Batya Segal in 1994, out of the desire to help build and restore the Land of Israel. VFI provides aid to poor and needy people from all backgrounds, living in the nation of Israel today.